MissBehaving Shetland Wanna-Be Stallion King

Question
QUESTION: Hey Rick,

I am helping a girlfriend re educate 4 horses. The first three are Standardbreds (ex trotters/pacers) really beautiful and no issue. The issue is no. 4 "Zeb". He is a 3yo Shetland colt, beautifully stunning, with the attitude the size of a house.

First of all he is very difficult to catch. When he was younger he was very tame and adaptable his old owners (my friends cousins) they would go into his paddock and brush him and do what most people do with Shetlands. Since he saw his first mare, he has never been the same. Where he is situated at my friends farm is usually a paddock or two from the girls. He can see them and calls out to them all the time, I believe this is where the catching problem comes in but there isn't anywhere on the farm where he and they are not visible. We catch him by luring the girls in and blocking them off beyond the round yard. Then bribe Zeb in with hay and section him in.

Secondly the head collar, once it's on, there is no issue, he will wear it, pull on it with no hassle. No shyness at all. But he hates the nose part going on. There are no sore spots but from the middle of his nose down to his lips he will not accept any contact without a fight. He lowers his head and tries to run. He rears and bucks and tries to bite for all he is worth.

Thirdly, he is a pain to lead. He pushes and pulls for a good half hour before deciding he will co operate. We will exempt him walking to his paddock because he walks past the mares - so as a colt it's in his nature to be somewhat frisky.

So far, we have made some progress. When we first got him he would not tie, would not lead and his whole character was that of a spoilt brat. He is accepting myself as his boss somewhat and then other days, these three issues come out in full. I can pick his feet, brush him, lead him and he isn't afraid of stables or confined spaces at all - I have used smaller spaces to work with him.

I guess I just need a bit of help on teaching him to be respectful and have manners. To stop being such a block head. I've already received one awesome bite, three kicks and a hoof in the head from an unexpected rear. As careful and as strong as I am with him, I'm really at a loss of how to help this little man.

ANSWER: You obviously did not read the information at the top of my question box, you  have not read my site or watched my videos.

I don't give out easy answers or fixes for people asking anybody for an easy answer.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Wasn't asking for an easy fix, I get where you're coming from, apologies for not researching your site more thoroughly, was under the impression that horsemanship was all about helping the horse and others learn.. Could of maybe 'obviously' structured your instructions in a more professional manner. But hey that's ok, experts don't accept ratings. No wonder. Arrogant as. Thanks for that - just a young person trying to look out for animals. I will now watch your videos and re search your site and see what I can pick up; not for the benefit of you, but to help the shetty. Nice work, Rick.

Answer
LOL, who what a shocker - another person that wants to blame me for their inability to even read about me before they ask a question. Boy this is a first - NOT.

I don't want your hurt feelings fake apology and neither does a horse. So you go ahead and feel sorry for yourself, and you keep thinking you are doing me a favor or the horse a favor and when you get hurt or get someone else hurt or teach a horse to be dangerous, if you need someone to tell you "I tried to warn you" - you come back.

As for your pathetic little cry baby session about what you think or feel horsemanship is or how I could be better, get over it. You don't know what you don't know and I did you a favor you just don't know it yet.

If you play the victim when working horses, you will become a victim of a horse. A horse does not care about your feelings, or your intent, or your love or your attempts to be sarcastic or smart, and neither do I. A horse only cares about survival, hierarchy and safety.

I could tell you that you need to use pressure release, herd behavior, prey and predator behavior, but since you are too busy to even read the instructions for the questions, you would just be writing me back asking what I meant.

I put a 500 page website and over 500 videos up to help people who are willing to put in the time to research, read and learn - the ones that just want to run around the internet and ask foolish questions to anyone that will answer are on a path to trouble.

So you go right on believing that I am the problem or the horse is the problem, or my instructions, or that since you are just a young person or whatever else you want to blame. In horsemanship, if you look in the mirror, you normally find the problem. The slow way is the fast way in horses.

Nice work Ionee.